Lafarge

Lafarge WAPCO in Nigeria has announced plans to order around 1,000 new lorries and other commercial vehicles, in part related to the start of cement production at the new 2.5Mta works at Lakatabu works later this spring.

Lafarge Zimbabwe increased turnover last year by 47% to US$41.7m as domestic sales rose by 55%, but earnings were flat because of a higher tax charge.

The Uzbekistan state-controlled Uzstroymateriali has announced that plans for a joint operation with Lafarge may result in the building of a 2.0Mta integrated works in the Jizzach region. At this stage, Lafarge refuses any comment on the basis that the project is only at the planning stage and details and financing have yet to be agreed. The site survey has yet to be completed. If the project does go ahead, Lafarge is likely to be aiming to export cement or clinker to Russia, where it already has a presence, rather than limiting itself to serving an increasingly well-supplied local market.